Saddle.



No. 744,591 PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

s. s. MOORE.

SADDLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1a. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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m: Monms PETERS 00.. no'rou'ma, wAsHmc-Tom up Patented November 17, 1903.

PATENT 7 OFFICE.

SIDNEY snooitn, or cRooKETn'TExAs.

SADDLE.

SPECIFICrkTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,591, datedNovember 17, 1903. Application filed February 18, 1903. Serial No.143,900. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY S. MOORE,a citizen of the United States,residing at Crockett,

in the county of Houston and State of Texas,

- ings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a saddle complete. Fig.2 is a perspective view of the frame or tree. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view through the tree. Fig. l is a perspectiveview of a modified form of tree. Fig.

5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same. 1

The tree or frame is preferably constructed of sheet metal, and the seat1 from a point about midway the length of the saddle toward the cantlewill preferably be solid, and projecting forwardly toward the pommel area plurality of paralleldisposed fingers 2, which are bent back uponthemselves to form spring supports or extensions 3, projecting beneaththe seat and terminating about midway the distance between the ponimeland cantle. The forward extremities of the several fingers are securedtogether by a suitable fastening device 4:, which may comprise a wiretie, as shown in Fig. 2, or a fastening device similar to that shown inFigs. 4 and Oppositely-disposed loops 5 and 6 project from the outsidefingers and extend through the fabric constituting the covering for thesaddle, so that the stirrup-straps can be secured thereto in aconvenient manner.

By forming the fingers as shown in Figs. 2

' and 3 the entire seat will be fulcrumed at the foremost extremitythereof and the cantle will be free to move vertically, so as to protheconcave side of the saddle, or the portion thereof which fits over theback of the animal, will be padded in the usual manner.

In=Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modified form in which the fingers3 are connected at their rear extremities by a transverse and curvedconnecting-bar 7. The fingers 3 extend forward toward the pommel of thesaddle and are then bent back upon themselves to form rearwardly andupwardly curved extensions 2 which project beyond the connecting-bar '7,each extension being successively longer than the preceding one from thesides toward the center, so that the proper curve or shape can be givento the cantle of the saddle. The forward portions of the fingers aresecured together by a securing-strip 8,which rests within the bentportions thereof. This strip comprisesa securing device, which extendstransversely of the tree to add rigidconform to the shape of the saddleand fastened to the respective fingers by means of rivets or bolts,which extend through the upper portions of the fingers and through thestrips. The two securing-strips 7 and 8 impart a sufficient amount ofrigidity to the lower portion of the tree, permitting the upperextensions of the fingers to have free play,whereby the seat will befulcrumed at or adjacent to the pommel, leaving the cantle free to moveVertically and receive the vibrations caused by the weight of the rideron the animal.

It will be noticed in both forms of the device the ends of one set offingers are free to move independently of each other, while their remaining ends-are secured together. The object of this arrangement is toprovide a sufficient amount of rigidity to the tree and at the same timeprovide for an independent spring action on any part of the saddle, sothat the seat will practically conform to the position of the rider onthe saddle. Of course the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will be providedwith suitable pads and covering according to the style of saddle to bemade.

The same style of frame will be used for practically all styles ofsaddles; but the particular form will be modified to accommodate vide ,acushion-seat for the rider. Of course ity to the structure. The strip iscurved to the peculiar form of saddle to be made. I therefore reservethe right to make such slight changes and alterations as will properlysuggest themselves within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A saddle-tree comprising a plurality of spring-fingers bent back uponthemselves, and afastening device engaging the folds made by bending thefingers, the said fingers at one end being free to move independentlyand disposed at an angle of inclination to the remaining part of thetree.

2. A saddle-tree comprising a plurality of flat spring-fingerswhich arebent and partially projected in a rearward direction, and a fas- F. II.BAYNE, CHAS. Lone.

